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5 Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe This Holiday Season

by Aaron Irons • 15 December 2015

Hello HAVEN supporters,

Between shopping, parties, and travel you are probably out of the house more than usual during the holiday season and nothing will ruin your holiday cheer faster than a home burglary. It’s important to make sure your home is safe and secure, so here are a few tips to do just that.

Keep your travel plans offline – If you are planning on traveling this holiday season, make sure to keep your plans off social media networks. Never post where you’re going, or your departure and return dates. This is prime information for thieves to know your house is empty.

Notify a neighbor – If you will be out of town, let a trusted neighbor know. Ask the neighbor to keep an eye on your house and report any suspicious activity. You’ll also want them to pick up your newspaper or check your mail so it looks like someone is home. Mail piling up is a dead giveaway that no one is home.

Make it look like someone is home – keep your blinds and curtains closed when you’re not home and set your lights on a timer or a solar switch. This can help ward off any would-be intruders.

Hide your valuables – Valuables out in the open are an invitation for burglars. Try to keep laptops, tablets and other small electronics away from windows or other places with a view.

Watch your Christmas lights – According to the U.S. Fire Administration, December is the deadliest month for electrical fires. Before you string lights on the house or the tree, be sure to inspect the strands to make sure there aren’t any frayed cords or cracked lamps. Replace any broken lamps and throw away strands with frayed cords. This will help prevent any accidental fires. Also, be sure to turn any holiday lights off when you go out for the evening or when you go to bed. Try using an outdoor timer to switch lights on and off.

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year, as long as you stay safe during them. Be sure to take the precautions you need in order to fully enjoy the season.

Will HAVEN work for me?

Before committing to buy, please use this test to determine if HAVEN will work on your door.

1. Your door opens inward.

Currently HAVEN will only work on doors that open inward, into the home. We do not currently support any doors that open to the exterior.

2. The Nickel Test

HAVEN is 0.8 inches high and should fit in the clearance path of most modern doors. A standard USD Nickel can be used to gauge the gap perfectly. Take a nickel, stand it on its end and make sure that it can pass under your door.

3. My floor will work with HAVEN.

HAVEN will need to sit firmly on a hard/clean surface: wood, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, or concrete are all likely compatible.

Concrete

Wood

Ceramic Tile

Vinyl/Linoleum

Your door needs adjustment.

Option 1

If you are into doing things yourself, check out our install guide for details on how to get your door ready for Haven.

Option 2

Your floor might not work.

Haven can work on a variety of different floor types. As long as Haven can be firmly secured to the subfloor, Haven will be fully functional. Ideally, the installation screws will be drilled at least one inch into the subfloor. Different floors may need different tools for installation.

Option 1

If you are into doing things yourself, check out our install guide for options on how to get your floor ready for HAVEN.

Congratulations! You have passed the compatibility test!

Your door and/or floor may need some tweaking, but in most cases adjustments can be made to make HAVEN work for you. Please consult our install guide for more detailed information about installing HAVEN.